No immediate sealing action against cell towers in Delhi

The MCD on Tuesday said that it is yet to finalise a policy on streamlining unregulated growth of mobile towers in Delhi and there is no immediate plan to launch any sealing drive or other action.

A crackdown on illegal cell towers in neighbouring Noida has led to sealing of 193 such structures after which a large number of subscribers have experienced network problems.

Amid apprehensions among cellphone users in Delhi that such a drive could be started by the MCD too, the civic body made it clear that there is no such immediate plan.

"A new policy on mobile towers will be brought in by the MCD. The proposal came before the MCD Standing Committee and now, a committee headed by councillor Meera Agarwal is looking into the issue. Till the policy is formally finalised, we cannot take any action," MCD spokesperson Deep Mathur said.

The draft policy to tackle the problem of unregulated installation of mobile towers, which was brought before the MCD panel, underlined that cellular service providers will be able to erect such towers only in non-residential areas. However, permission will be given for setting up towers on multi-storied buildings too, it had said.